Tire spreader



Feb. 2, 1960 J. J. FANNEN 2,923,527

TIRE SPREADER INVENTOR.

John .I Fahnen.

Feb. 2, 1960 .1.J. FANNEN 2,923,527

TIRE SPREADER Filed July 2, 195e 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 J3 [4 INVENTOR.

Join: l Fnnen. BY J5 Feb. 2, 1960 J. J. FANNEN 2,923,527

TIRE SPREADER Filed July 2, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

25 Jbhrz J'. Pannen.

Feb. 2, 1960 Filed July 2, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 :l: l INVENTOR.

John .ZFannen BY JMJ; mlb,

.HTTYS Feb. 2, 1960 J. J. FANNEN 2,923,527

TIRE SPREADER Filed July a, 195s e sheets-sheet 6 es "39 39N v \25 INVENTOR. T 24 i l John .l Pannen M viva/,b

H TTYS TIRE SPREADER `John J. Fahnen, Lodi, Calif., assignorto Super Mold Fig. 1 is a front lelevation of the tire spreader, showingl the mold as initially lowered into place thereon.

place; the slides of the lower bead engaging and spread-l Corporation of California, Lodi, Calif., a corporationl of California Application July 2, 1956, Serial No. 595,370 Y i 7 Claims. (Cl. 254-50.3)

In the tire retreading industry, the retreading of tires is performed-by one method-in a portable, self-contained, full-circle or band-type mold which includes an endless, inwardly opening tire receiving matrix cavity; such a mold being shown in copending application, Serial No. 591,974, led lune 18, 1956. ,y y

VIn order inserta tire, having the unvulcanized new tread rubber or Camelback thereon,v in a mold 'of the above type, preparatory to the vulcanizing operatiom'and to subsequently remove the tire after such operation is complete, it is necessary to substantially reduce the outside diameter of the tire, and this is accomplished in a device known as a tire spreader.

The function of a tire spreader is to engage and spread the beads of a tire apart in an axial direction, which results in such reduction in the tire diameter, and to then hold the tire in such condition while inserting itin-or.l

removing the same from-the mold.

IIt is therefore a major object of the present invention to provide a power `actuated tire spreader, for use with a band-type tire retreading mold, which is of novel con- Fig. 2 isa side elevation-of the tire spreader. t Fig.Y 3 is a fragmentary top view showing the mold on the tire spreader and prior to said mold `being secured in ing unit being shown extended.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the tire spreader showing.V both the upper and lower bead engaging and spreadingV units in working positions preparatory to axially separating the Vtire beads.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the lower bead engaging and spreading unit` detached and with the slides retracted.

Fig. 6 is an enlargedfragmentary section taken onv line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

EFig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on line 7-7'of Fig. 4.

Figs. 8-13 inclusive are diagrammatic views illustrat-Y ing the sequential steps in the operation of the tire spreader to insert a tire in the spreader-supported mold.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and

' to the characters of referencermarked thereon, the tire spreader kcornprises a rigid, upstanding frame, indicated generally at 1, `and which frame is of open or skeleton constructiong` there being a raised foot platform 2 which .V extends forwardly from the frame 1.

struction and function; the spreader being designed t0 readily receive and hold the mold in place, and to thereafter spread thetire beads apart so that the tire-by reason of the resultant reduction in outside diamterp-can be positively and smoothly inserted in, or removedfrom, suchmold. Y Y Y i Another object ,of the invention is to provide aptire spreader, as above, which includes opposed bead engaging and spreading units whichV are. of novel'forrnband independently actuated to attain a nicetyof control -dur ing the spreading of the beads of the tire to reduce its outside diameter, and the subsequent movernent'of` such tire by said units either into or out of the mold. j

An additional object of the invention is to provide a vtire spreader which embodies an eiective, manually side.

In a plane above the lfoot platform 2, and at the top Ofthe frame 1, the latter supports-in rigid relationa horizontal platform ring 3 of substantial diameter, and which is symmetrically disposed-in plan-relative toA such frame.

At circumferentially spaced points, and adjacent the periphery thereof, the horizontal platform ring' 3 is tted-on top thereof-with eccentric rotary plates 4 suitably journaled in connection with said ring, and each `having a depending stub shaft -5 fitted-below said ringwith a sprocket 6.

An endless chain 7 is disposed below the platform ring 3 land is trained about each of the sprockets 6; such chain-intermediate the sprockets -turning `about idlerv sprockets 8 likewise carried by said ring on the under In order toreversibly actuate the endless chain 7-for the purpose of simultaneously rotating the eccentric plates 4-thefollowing arrangement isA employed in connection with the depending stub shaft 5 of one of the rotary vplates 4 at the front of the device, and which arrangement is operated quickacting mechanism for securing theV mold f'".

on the spreader in an accurately centered position relative to the bead engaging and spreading units; one ofrsuch units also `being arranged with means to initially locate the tire in centered relation to the mold as so secured on the spreader by said mechanism; all to the end that when the spreader is in use, the tire and mold are co-axial, and Vwhich is necessary to the attainment of easy and unobstructed movement ofthe reduced-diameter tire into or out of such mold.

It is also an object of the invention to provide ai tire t by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In thedrawings:

shown in detail in Fig. 7. Here the depending stub shaft 5.-.which on all othersis rigidly fixed to the sprocketprojects through the related one thereof in axially slidable relation, and extends to a lower end termination therebelow. This particular sprocket includes an upstanding pin 9 which slidably engages in a downwardly opening bore 10 in the hub 11 of the related eccentric rotary plate y4, and in which hub the stub'shaft Sis slidably splined, as shown; such hub being carried in a depending boss 12.

At its lower end the depending stub shaft 5 of the arlrangement shown in Fig. 7 is secured by a pivot pin 13 inaclevis l14 on the upper end of a normally dependent handle 1'5; the upper end of such handle being formed Vwith a cam 16.

When the handle 15 is in its normal dependent position, the cam 16 works against a washer 17 which encircles thedepending stub shaft 5 between said cam -116 and the sprocket `6, then clamping the latter against the lower endjof the boss l12, which thusprevents any motion of the endless chain 7.V Y

Theeccentric plates 4 are each fitted-in oiset relation to the axis of 4rotationwith an upstanding pinV 18, and at their upper ends Vcertain of Vsaid pinsare formed Vwith enlarged heads 19.'4

Patented eb. vvv2,n l19,60 f

`At the: outset rthe Yeccentric plates 4 are disposed so that the upstanding pins 18 lieV in a" circumferential'path whose diameter is greater than the outside diameter of the band-type mold, indicatedY generally at 20, with which the tire spreader is, adapted' to be used;

Such bandtype mold 201s secured on' `the .tire` spreader-#for insertionof atire into such mold, or sub- Asequent removal ofsuchtirein the following fm'anner:Y

TheV mold 20 is Vlifted by-,a hoist, indicated inA part "at 21, and is disposed liorizo'ntally-'-and in substantially coaxial relationabove the platform ring 3;? The mold" isY then lowered until it rests on the eccentric rotary plates of the sprockets 6 and the plates 4 to simultaneously cause the pins 18 to move inwardly into engagement with. the periphery of the mold 20, which effectively centers the latter in the spreader. p p l The mold 20 is formed withra peripheral groove 22,

i and when the upstanding pins 18`are'moved"`inwardly,

as above, the heads 19engage in such groove 22 to. prevent any vertical displacement of the mold from the eccentric rotary plates 4 during use of the tire spreader.

The lower bead engaging and spreading unit, of the tire spreader, isindicated generally at 23, and comprises the following: Y

p A duid pressure actuated power cylinder 24 is1 fixed at its lowerend to the bottom of the frame 1, and such power cylinder upstands below the platform 'ring 3 in a position coaxially related thereto. 'p

A piston rod 25 Vextends, from the upper end ofthe cylinder Z4 and is centrally iixed to a horizontal disc 26 whose outside diameter'is lesser than the insideV diameter of any tire with which thespreader is adapted to be used.

The horizontal disc 26 is fitted, Vat circumferentially spaced points (here 90 degrees apart) with at radial slides 27 carried in guideways 28 formed on the vunder,

side of said disc. At Vthe outer end each radial slide 27 is fitted with a rigid, outwardlyprojecting, beadJengaging pad 29; said pads ,being received in notches 30 inthe periphery of the disce26 when said slides.,27 Aare in` a retracted position.

` The slides 27 areeach releasably Etched-inta 50 position-by `means of"` a'dog leg tracted or advanced an uptumed end portion 32 which catchV pin 31 having slidably extends through the bottom of the related guideway 28, releasably engaging in an outer bore '33 or an innerv bore 34 when the slide 27 is retracted or `advanced, respectively. l

The dog leg catch pin 31 is xed to the lowerfcndof a Vdepressible, spring-returned plunger 35 mounted in connection with the discY 26 to one side slide 27, and whichplunger is formed-on VVits upper endwith a finger knob 36 manually accessible from above said disc. By merely depressing vthe knob 36 the related slide 27 may be released, advanced or retracted, and thereafter relatched inV position by merely releasing said knob 36. The bead engaging pad 29 of each slide 27 is provided with an upstanding pin 37, and a depending-pin 38; these pins acting as stops and tire centeringY elements, as will be seen.

i erally at' 39; there being one of saidassemblies mounted and bead engaging hook assemblies 39 are of like construction-excepting being positionallyV opposed-V-a descriptionof one will suice for` both;

Each swing armand beadengaging'hook assembly 39 i comprises an upstandingziluid"pressureactuated power cylinder 40v pivotally 4connected at its lower end, as at 41,V in the'frame .1,V and thence extending upwardly-in clearance relation-fthrough` a laterally outwardly` projecting extensio'42,V onthe platformring 3; each such extension i2-which extends horizontally front to rear of the frame 1--being supported,` at the ends and from below, by posts 43 whichY extend upwardly from the bottom of'said'fram'eV 1. Y p p The power cylinder 40 includes an upwardly projecting piston rod 44 pivotally connected, as at 45, to a cross head 46 centrally of the ends of the latter.

At itsends vthe. crossV head 46- is tted with downwardly extending slide; rods 47, which` work in vertical guide.

` sleeves 48 mounted on--andupstanding from-the ends of the related, `laterally outwardly projecting extension 42.` A tubular swing `arm 49, which is initially disposed ini a'v verticalaposition, is pivoted-fati, its lower end,` as `at 50g-between transversely-.spaced ears 51whichY extend i upwardlymfrom the `central portion of `the cross head 416.`

1 Thepivot pini50- is extended at one end beyondthe corresponding ear 51,V and a balancing spring 52of torsion type `surrounds the projecting end portion of pin 50; `the spring being anchored at one end to the pin, and at the other end tothe cross head 46.`

The pivot pin Sr-which is fixed to Vthe lower end `of the related swing arm 49-acts toyieldably maintain the of the related llatter iurits` initial vertical position,

and counterbalances the weight ofl such arm as it is manually swung-as will; hereinafter appear-ffrom suchzvertical position downwardly to an inwardlyprojecting position.

, .A `rod 53 is included with `and slidably and turnably engages in the swing arm 49 from the outer end of the latter, and said rod 53-at its outer end-is fitted with a transverse, normally substantially horizontal carrier n 54, andthelatter-fat its outer ends-is iitted with pivotally attached, bead engaginghooks mount of said hooks being such that they are swingable i 55; the pivotal about a generally upstanding Yaxis when the swing arms 49 are in thei'r.loweredinward1y projecting position, as

, shownffor example-in Fig. 4.` Y

',flfhe carrier .54is. tted-.at the back, and centrally of its endswith ahandle 56, by means of which the correspondingswing arm and bead engaging hook assembly 39 may be manipulated by the operator standing on `the foobplatform 2.v Y Y Y 4 .Y 'The sliderod 53is initially but yieldably urged sub.- stantially full length into thetubular swing arm 49 by a pull-back or tension spring 57 connected between the Carrier 54 and said swing ,arm 49 at a point adjacent i the Yinner end of the latter; such spring lying relatively close-andparallel-f-to said swing arm. l p

-With abandtype mold `20 secured horizontally in the tire spreaderin the manner previously described, with the lower 'bead' engaging and` spreading unit 23 in its loweredrposition, and with the swingarm and bead engaging hook assemblies 39 in their upstanding or raised At the start of each tire spreading operation the piston rod 25 and disc 26 are in loweredrposition, with the rapris'ed of Aseparate, initially upstanding, swing arm and bead engaging h `vls assemblies, eanhbeing indicated gellposition, the device is used in the following manner` to yinsert a tire in said mold:

Particularly by reference to Figs. 8-13 inclusive, which illustrate diagrammatically `the sequential steps, a tire 'I -is lirst'laid atrest-fasA shown in dotted lines in;F,ig.

--atop 4the moldl; suchjtire-with the new tread rubber or camelback thereonthen being of `too great `an `outside diameterfor insertion into the Amold 20, and particularly :into the tire `receiving matrix cavity C thereof.

Ihus, to insertthe tire Tinto such matrix cavityfQ Jof the mold 20 it is necessary' to reduce ip its outside" diameter, {o} ventstammt-e'rtetitand te 'their move the tire axially into such mold. Y t.

To accomplish this the slides 27 on the disc 26 of the lower bead engaging spreading unit 23 are first advanced so that said slides and the bead engaging pads 29 project outwardly from the periphery of the disc.

This is followed by raising of the disc 26 by the power cylinder 24 until the bead engaging pads 29 rest against the lower bead L from the under side; the disc 26 being raisedV until the tire T is lifted clear of the mold 20.

Thereafter, the tire is manipulated so that the upstanding pins 37 accurately center the tire relative to the mold 20; all as shown in Fig. 8. y

Thereafter, the disc 26 is lowered by the power cylinder 274, which results in the tire T being returned to its seat ontop of the mold 20, now accurately centered relative to the latter. s

This is followed by the disc.26 being further lowered to clear such tire, whereuponY the Yslides 27 and pads 29 are returned to their retracted position.

Nextly, the disc 26 is again run upwardly until it occupies a position in a plane intermediate the lower bead L and the upper bead U of the tire T, and in such position of the disc the slides 27 Y and pads 29 thereon are again advanced, whichidisposes said pads in overlying relation to the lower bead L;`the disc then being slightly lowered until the padsv29 engageand impose a slight downward pressure on-said lower bead L (see Fig. 9). The depending pins 38 prevent any undesirable displacement of the tire T radially ofthe disc 26. l t

p Nextly, the operator grasps the handles 56 of the swing arm `and bead engaging hook assemblies 39 and swings 4 is lowered to its starting position, while the swing arms both thereof downwardly to a laterallyrinwardly projecting position. l .Y

Thereafter-by pulling on said handlesthe rods 53 are Apartially slid outof the arms 49, and to such an extent thatthe hooks-55 may then .be engaged with the upper bead U-from belowof the tire, whereupon the handles are released; the springsS] then retracting the rods 53 suflicient to maintain such engagement (see Fig. 10).

This is followed by the power cylinders 40 being simultaneously operated to raise both of the swing arm and bead engaging hook assemblies, which in turn pulls the upper bead U of the tire upwardly a substantial distance (see Fig. 11).

Nextly, the disc 26-which remained stationary during raising of the assemblies 39--is moved downwardly by the power cylinder 24, and with such downward movement the pads 29-then in engagement with the lower bead L from above-move such latter bead downwardly a distance comparable to that which the upper bead U was theretofore moved upwardly.

With such relatively wide axial separation of the beads L and U of the tire T, it is distorted in the manner shown in Fig. l2, and which results in a substantial reduction in the cover-all diameter of such tire.

With the diameter of the tire T so reduced, the power cylinders 24 and 40 are operated to simultaneously lower the tire T into the mold 20, and until the tread of the tire is in proper position for reception in the matrix cavity C, whereupon the movement is stopped.

Thereafter, the disc 26 is raised slightly by the power cylinder 24, with resultant raising of the lower bead L suicient that the tire T begins to expand into the matrix cavity C (see Fig. 13); this latter motion of the disc 26 being stopped before the lower bead L reaches its normal position.

Nextly, the operator-standing on the platform 2 inserts an inside curing bag and an inside curing rim in the tire from above; such bag and rim not being shown.

After insertion of the inside curing bag and inside curing rim in the tire, the power cylinders 24 and 40 are operated in a manner to raise the disc 26 and lower the assemblies 39 until the beads L and U return to f 49l are manipulated by the handles 56 to release the hooks 55, which is followed by manual swinging of said assemblies 39 to Vtheir'vertical position. v v Y The mold 20, with the tire T thus inserted therein, is then released from the tire spreader by suitable simultaneous operation of the rotary plates 4, whereupon such mold is picked up by the hoist 21 and moved to a suitable position clear of the tire spreader, and in which-position vthe vulcanizing operation is conducted; the heating of the'mold andthe vulcanizing operationbeing'more specically described rin the identified copending application,vSerial No. 591,974, filed .lune 18, 1956. Y

Y After the vulcanizing operation is complete, the rnoldl 2,0 is returned'ito the spreader, and the same is usedbut in reverse order of Vthe sequential stepsto remove the tire from the mold.

With the described tire spreader a tire may `be inserted in-K-or removed from-the mold 2.0 in an effective and expeditious manner; all being accomplished by very simple manipulations on the part of the operator.

While not here shown-and omitted for the sake of claritythe power cylinder 24 and the power cylinders 40 are operatedfthrough the medium of la Valve-regulated,v uidpressure conduit system, and by means of which the cylinder 24 can be worked independently of-or simultaneously withthe cylinders 4l), selectively,'all of said cylinders being of double-acting type.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there Vhas been produced such a device as will substantially fulfill the objectsA of the invention, asset forth 35` While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations therefrom maybe resorted to as do-not form 'a departure from the spirit of the invention, as delined "by the' appended' claims.

Having thus described the invention, the following I claimed as new and useful, and upon which Letters Patent are desired: v

1. A tire spreader comprising, with a frame having means thereon to support a tire to be spread in a horizontal position so as to then have upper and lower beads, a lower spreader unit Ymounted in connection with the frame below said means and including elements to enga-ge the lower bead; and an upper spreader unit comprising upstanding vertically movable rods mounted in connection with the frame on opposite sides of the tire, a swing arm mounted on the upper end of each rod in position to overhang the adjacent side of the tire, and a hook assembly on the outer end of the arm to engage the upper bead of the tire on the inside thereof; said swing arm being telescopic whereby the operative length thereof may be Y extended Vor contracted, and spring means connected to the arm and yieldably resisting extension thereof.

2. A tire'spreader compris-ing, with a frame having means thereon to support a tire to be spread in a horizontal position so as to then have upper and lower beads, a lower spreader unit mounted in connection with the frame below said means and including elements to engage the lower bead; and an upper spreader unit comprising upstanding vertically movable rods mounted in connection with the frame on opposite sides of the tire, `a swing arm mounted on the upper `end of each rod in position to overhang the adjacent side of the tire, and a hook assembly on the outer end of the arm to engage the upperV bead of the tire on the inside thereof; said swing arm comprising a main portion and aV rod slidablein and projecting from the outer end of the main poruon and on which rod the hook assembly is mounted, and a spring connected between said main portion of the4 arm and said rod and yieldably resisting extension of the latter.

t which time the'tirefully .y

associare f, -3-. ,A tire spreader; ,comprising with'ga frame` having means thereon to support atireV to be spread inialhorizon;

tal; position `somasto then-have upper. andlowerbeads, a?lowernspreaderf unit mounted inconnectionwith the frarnebelow said means and `including elements to en gage the lower bead; and an'upper` spreader init comprising upstanding vertically movable rods mounted in con-V nection with the frame on opposite sides of the tire, a

swing arm mounted onthe upper end of each rod in position to overhang theadjacent side ofthe tire, a hook assembly on the outer end of the arm to engage the upper bead of the tire on the inside thereof, a cross head on the upper end Y ofthe rod, a horizontal pivot pin extending lengthwise of Yand mounted on the'cross head .and on` frame below said means and including elements to er1- gage the'lowerbead; and an upper spreader unit compris-l ing upstanding vertically movable rods mounted in connection Withthe frame on opposite sides of the tire, power means applied to each rod to raise and lower the same, a cross head o n the upper end of each1rod, a swing arm mounted at itsj inner end on the cross head in positionto'overhang the adjacent side of the tire, a hook assembly on the outer end of the arm to engagethe upper bead of the tireon the inside thereof, guide rods depending from the `cross h ead adjacent its ends, and sleeves mounted on the frame and in which the guide rods are slidable.

5. A tire spreader comprising, with a frame having means thereon to support a tire to be spread, in a horizontal position so as to then have upper and lower beads, anupper spreader unit including opposed arms overhanging the tire from: the outside and bead engaging elements on the outer end of the arms; and a lower bead spreading` litlifiwmpsinga ,disca'rdea-fadvs #599111? dise@ power cylinderiixed with the frame; andinwhich therod.

is slidable; slides mounted in thedisc `for movement radially thereon, p ads on theouter ends-oithe slides, adapted` for engagement thelower tire beadwhen the-slides are advan'ced releasable. catch means holding the yslides;

in a predetermined fp osition o fadvance`,ad a "stop dei-` pending from each-pad to engagethe base of the bead whenthe slideis so advanced.

6r spreader, as 'n claim 5, ,wit'hranother-Vstop pro jecting upwardly from each pad insubstantial `vertical aliemeptfwith. the'rsiaapled 1810?, i,

7. A tire spreader comprisingavframe, ahorizontal spread ina horizontal positionsoas to then have'pper Vannular member on the frame to `support a tireto be and lower beads,-a n upper spreader unit to engage the` upper bead, a lower spread unitmuted on the Yframe Y radially -inward :ofv and initially belowiatireon `said member, saidlower unit including padsmovableradially out to engage the lowentire head 'and a-,vertically, rnoyableY support for the pads, means .torlfiovetlie` support upwardl' lyrfroman initial'lyloweredfposition `whereby the pads .may engage under the lower tire `bead and lift ythe tire o said member, and elements `upstaiiding" fromthe pads torengaige the base of s aidlow-,r-` bead and center the tire,

relative to the member uponthc tie'being sollifted. f

"References cire-ain me are ofthis patent: l

' UNTED( srafras" PATENTS i, p 

